Call to Prayer as a Congregation and Community

Call to prayer as a congregation and community—Please come at 6:00 pm so we can pray together as a church family. 

Call to Students—Free Pizza Dinner at URC (4:30 pm) prior to the prayer meeting.

Dear URC church family,

We are all grieving over the senseless and shocking murders in our own community yesterday. The words of the Psalmist, “How long, O Lord?,” come flooding into the heart and have been upon many of our lips. The pain and anguish is real. The outrage and grief are right. Lives weren’t meant to end this way, especially young lives.

Let me simply remind us of three things in the midst of our universal sorrow.

First, a merciful God keeps “our tears in His bottle” (Psalm 56:8). The sorrows we experience are not lost on Him. At the grave of Lazarus, our great Savior wept with those who wept. The cries of God’s people in this fallen and sinful world do not fall upon deaf ears. Our God is not disinterested, disengaged, or distracted. He meets us and provides for us in the midst of our grief. Let’s press into Him.

Second, as a church, we will rightfully weep with those who weep. In His kindness, God put us together. The students, faculty, staff, and parents within our midst are and will be surrounded with our care. I love that URC does this well and know you will continue even more so in the days ahead. Let’s press into one another.

Third, let’s support our greater community with prayer and availability. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and strength to minister in conversation, with a hug, a text, or a comforting word amoung our neighbors, family members, and coworkers. There are many in our Lansing community lacking the comforts that you and I enjoy in Christ. And be prayerful. “The prayers of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Our God hears prayers. We serve our community best with a kind comforting word in the midst of its grief and while also lifting it up upon our knees. Let’s press into our neighbors.

The elders, deacons, and staff at URC are thankful that each of you are safe. Please contact any of us to talk or pray as you have need. He put us together for a reason. As I’ve told you before, He saved us not only to Himself but unto one another. Let’s “press in” together.

See many of you this evening at 6:00 pm.

By His Grace,

Pastor Jason